Combined thermometer case and timing device



July 20, 1954 R. A. SCHWEIGER COMBINED THERMOMETER CASE AND TIMING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1952 INVENTOR. Rev A .Sc. Hwmesn.

Patented July 20, 1954 COMBINED THERMOMETER CASE AND TIIVIING DEVICE Roy A. Schweiger, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 28, 1952, Serial No. 322,890

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to portable thermometer cases and more particularly to a case for a clinical thermometer used by an individual to take his own temperature and including a timing olevice for advising a person using the associated thermometer when the thermometer has been held in the mouth for a sufficient length of time to obtain a correct temperature indication.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved thermometer case which will receive at least one clinical thermometer and includes a timing device in the form of an hourglass; which is of rigid construction to provide full protection to a thermometer disposed therein and provides adequate visibility of the timing device; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration or" the following description and the appended claim in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a combined thermometer case and timing device illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 of a somewhat modified form of the device with a portion broken away to better illustrate the construction thereof; and

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

With continued reference to the drawing, the combined thermometer case and timing device includes a body In of elongated, rectangular shape having a length somewhat greater than the length of a conventional clinical thermometer and preferably having rounded edges. This body has its end surfaces substantially in planes disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the body, so that the body will stand in upright position on either end and the body is provided with a longitudinally extending bore ll disposed adjacent one side of the body and closed at one end by the corresponding end portion of the body, as indicated at 12. The bore opens to the other end of the body and the body is provided at the end to which the bore opens with a recess iii of rectangular shape extending across the end of the body in the direction of the major dimension of the rectangular cross sectional shape of the body with its side edges spaced inwardly from the side edges of the corresponding end of the body and one end spaced inwardly from the adjacent end edge of the body. The recess 13 is undercut along its side edges to provide guideway grooves l4 and I5 disposed in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other, and a fiat closure member or cover it of elongated, rectangular shape is disposed in the recess i 3 with its side edges slidably received in the guideway grooves 14 and I5, so that the cover can be longitudinally moved into and out of closing relationship with the open end of the thermometer receiving bore H.

A timing device in the form of an hourglass is provided in the body It and, in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the body is formed of transparent material and the timing device comprises elongated chambers IT and I8 formed in the body It and spaced apart longitudinally of the body in longitudinal alignment with each other. Each of the chambers I1 and is has a length somewhat less than onehalf the length of the body 10, and these chambers are disposed at respectively opposite sides of the mid length location of the body and are connected at their adjacent ends by a restricted orifice I9 extending through a bead or grommet 20 of a hard material, such as glass.

A body 2| of granular material, such as dry, graded sand or a similar substance, is disposed in at least one of the chambers I1 and I8 and will flow from the upper to the lower of these chambers when the body ii] is stood on one end or the other. The time that is required for all of the sand 2| to flow through the orifice l9 from the upper into the lower of the chambers I! and i 8 measures a time interval which will provide a correct temperature reading or indication on the associated clinical thermometer 22, if the thermometer is held in the month during this time interval.

In order to place the sand 25 in the chambers El and ii: an opening may be provided between one end of the body H3 and the adjacent end of the nearest chamber and the sand poured through this opening into the corresponding chamber, the opening being later closed by material of the same character as that of which the body l E) is formed, so that it is not apparent in the finished device.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures i and 5, the body I9 is of substantially the same size and shape as the body H illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and described above, and has the thermometer receiving bore H extending longitudinally thereof and opening to one end of the body, an undercut flat recess l3 in the end of the body to which the bore H opens providing guideway grooves M and I and a closure or cover, similar to the closure it, but not illustrated, for opening or closing the open end of the bore H.

Instead of having the timing device chambers l1 and is formed directly therein, thebody i0 is provided with a second bore '24 extending longitudinally thereof spaced from and parallel to the bore II and opening to the same end of the body as that to which the bore -l 1' opens. The bore as is of larger diameter than the bore H and is connected to the side surfaces of the body by closed slots 25, 2G and 21 extending longitudinally of the body betweenlocations spaced inwardly from the respectively opposite ends of the body. The slots 25 and 21 are provided respectively in the opposite side surfaces of the body l0 and are disposed symmetricallyof a plane whichiincludes the longitudinal center line of the bore'fi l and is disposed perpendicular to the side surfaces-of the body, whilexthe'slot Etiszdisposed in the edge surface .of the body H3 nearest the bore .24 symmetrically of a plane which includes thelongitudinal center line of the'bore and is disposed substantially parallel to the opposite side surfaces of theibody.

A preformed hourglass device St is disposed in the .bore 24 and extends longitudinally of this bore. This device is formed of a suitable transparent material, such asiaisynthetic resin plastic, and includes end portions '3! and 32 enclosing chambers equivalentto the:chambers ii and I3 illustrated in Figure 2 and described above, the adjacent ends of the chambers being interconnected by. a restricted orifice: 33 extending through a :neck 34' of the structure between the adjacent endsoi" the'end portions v3| and 32. .A body of granular material corresponding to the body of sand 2! is disposed in the hourglass device 39 and is movable from the upper into the lower chamber of this device .as 'thebody it "'isstood on oneend or theother;

In the formof the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the movementof the sand through theorifice 9 is clearly visible through the transparent material of the body It, andinthe form shown in Figures 4 and 5, the movementof the sand through the orifice 33 is visible3through the slots 25,26 and'2'7 and through the transparent hourglass structure 39.

When the-thermometer case standsonone end, all of the sand willfiow from-the upper chamber into the lower chamber of the timing :device. When it *is then desired'to use the thermometer, the thermometer is removed from the thermome- "ter receiving bore in the-case and placed in the patientsmouth either by the patient himself, or

essential characteristics thereof.

by an attendant, and the case is inverted and stood on its opposite end at a location conveniently within the observation of the patient. As soon as all of the sand has passed from the upper chamber of the timing device to the lower chamber, sufiicient time will have elapsed to provide a correct temperature reading or indication on the thermometer and the patient may now remove the thermometer fromhis mouth and either read the temperature indication himself, if he is able, or call the attendant to make the temperature reading and return the thermometer to the case.

' The-invention may be embodi d in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or The present embodiment-is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all-changes which come within the meaningand range ofequivalency of the claim are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein;

What isclaimed. is:

.A protective case for a clinical thermometer comprisinga body of'elongated shape and having its-end surfaces in planes-substantially perpendicular'to the longitudinal centerline of the body so that the body will stand in upright position on either'endand'having a longitudinally extending :bore closed atone end and opening atits other end to one endof said body, said bore being adapted to receive a clinical thermometer therein, closure means movably mounted on said one end ofthe'body-for opening'and closing the openend ofsaid-bore, and time measuring'means disposed in said body adjacent'said bore and visible from the exterior of said body, said=bodybeing formed of transparent material and said time measuring means comprising closed chambers formed in said body and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, meansproviding a restricted orifice interconnect- 'ing said chambers at their adjacent ends-and a bod of granular materialin said chambers'movable through said restricted orifice from the upper to the lower of-said chambers when saidbody is set'onone end or the other.

References -Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,973 Cuttler Mar. 18,1373 1,641,343 Maynard Sept. 6, 192'? 2,283,599 Dickinson May 19, 1942 2,358,791 Collopy Sept. 26, 194A FOREIGN- PATENTS Number Country Date 256,l2=i Germany Jan. 31, 1913 

